Foreign Policy

Turkish President praises Venezuela’s leader in 1st visitTurkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is heaping praise on Venezuela’s embattled leader as ties between the two countries blossom. Erdogan took the stage Monday with President Nicolas Maduro in the first-ever visit by a Turkish president to Venezuela.
The New York Times, Turkish President praises Venezuela’s leader in 1st visit, 3 December 2018

Turkey’s Erdogan tells Putin he wants new summit on Syria’s IdlibTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday he should hold another summit to discuss the situation in Syria’s Idlib province where the two countries are trying to create a sustainable demilitarized zone.
Reuters, Turkey’s Erdogan tells Putin he wants new summit on Syria’s Idlib, 1 December 2018

Trump cancels formal meeting with Erdoğan at G-20 summitU.S. President Donald Trump will not hold formal meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and South Korea’s Moon Jae-in, but will instead speak informally with those leaders at the conference, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
Hurriyet, Trump cancels formal meeting with Erdoğan at G-20 summit, 30 November 2018

Turkey’s F-35 role at risk if it buys from Russia, Pentagon warnsTurkey risks expulsion from the U.S.-led F-35 program, the world’s costliest weapons project, if its government takes delivery of an advanced Russian anti-aircraft system, according to an unclassified summary of a Pentagon report sent to Congress.
Bloomberg, Turkey’s F-35 role at risk if it buys from Russia, Pentagon warns, 28 November 2018

Economy and Energy

Turkish inflation eases from 15-year high as lira recoversOfficial figures show that Turkey’s inflation rate eased in November in the wake of a firmer currency, which kept a lid on import prices. The Turkish Statistical Institute said Monday that consumer prices in the year to November were up 21.6 percent, down from October’s 15-year high rate of 25.2 percent.
The Washington Post, Turkish inflation eases from 15-year high as lira recovers, 3 December 2018

Turkey cenbank expects inflation to gradually converge to targetTurkey’s inflation is expected to get gradually nearer to the central bank’s targets, Central Bank Governor Murat Cetinkaya said on Friday, after consumer prices last month surged to a 15-year high of 25.2 percent.
Reuters, Turkey cenbank expects inflation to gradually converge to target, 30 November 2018

Turkey to sell asset-backed bonds to help ease banks’ burdenTurkey’s development bank is gearing up to sell asset-backed securities to investors, a sign that authorities are pressing ahead with a plan to help free up bank balance sheets and improve lenders’ access to liquidity.
Bloomberg, Turkey to sell asset-backed bonds to help ease banks’ burden, 28 November 2018

Domestic Politics

Turkish court keeps Kurdish politician Demirtas in jail despite ECHRA Turkish court has ruled that the former leader of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition remain in prison, his lawyers said on Twitter on Friday, after top EU officials last week called for the politician’s swift release.
The New York Times, Turkish court keeps Kurdish politician Demirtas in jail despite ECHR, 30 November 2018

İYİ Party, CHP in talks of alliance on nine polling districtsİYİ (Good) Party and Republican People’s Party (CHP) are having talks of forming an alliance for the upcoming local elections, mainly focused on nine metropolises, İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener said on Nov. 27.
Hurriyet, İYİ Party, CHP in talks of alliance on nine polling districts, 27 November 2018